Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-05-04
TIM THE cossLea.
An Honest Old Mans Arrival at the High
Tide of a Noble IIfa

Tide of q Noble Lie.
James Geddes, in Detroit Free Pressl
Tim was a philosopher IN his way, aud
the dicta of his philosophy he had derived
from his work-plain sayings such as
these: ''Choose q friend as you would a
shoe-one strong and honest whose aid
will carry you through storm and sun
shine; not polished looks or taking ways,
but hrst-class leather-that's what pays.
Helping a man is like tapping q shoe
Mend the shoe in time and it's most a.
good as new. So CHEEKY word, il you
speak it nova kindly deed, IL you do 1t to-
day-may be world of good to some
weary soul that poverty and despair have
laid their heavy hands upon.
"It's pretty much the same with life as
with the shoe-not all springing sod and
pleasant paths for the shoe, but dust and
mire and grime-not all success for tho
man, but failure and sorrow.
"Let me fill my place in the world as well
as a good shoe does, let me keep some
weaker companion in life's journey from
sinking into its sloughs or falling wounded
on its sharp-edged 70 cks and i shall die
content"
Tim lived his philosophy, facts not
theories were its bases; and its reward,
content, had written such lines upon his
countenance that homely words and
rugged face were eloquent alike.
Flowers and kind words were not his
only gifts. Many bit Of mending he did
that made him none the richer save in such
treasure as thanks from the heart, tears of
gratitude and glances that needed no
words to be understood. A part of each
days earnings became, ere he entered his
home, food for the hungry, medicine for
the sick, clothes for the naked. Rich was
fraa fhaf no laid N for himeQlf in
| humble hearts.
But sweetest flowers fall before the
reaper's sickle. Death, too, spares not the
| loveliest lives. When / came home last
night l found the cobbler there before
me, something unusual He felt op-
pressed with WEAKNESS, he said, and
| had left his work at noon. Soon
he went to his room where in few min
utes joined him, finding him upon his
bed. ''You will stay with me, will you
not, TO the endl" he said; ''for feel that
shall not live long" 1 pressed his out
stretched hand for an answer. The as
surance in his tones and the great change
that had quickly come over his face told
me that truth was in his words.
Tim had fallen asleep and still held his
hand, sitting silent and motionless, hoping
hopelessly against the belief that soor
must the silver cord be loosed, the golden
bowl be broken.
He woke shortly after, looked out on the
channel filing with the waters and said
1.-THE tide is coming in" turned and fel
asleep again. A sudden hope filled my
heart. He spoke no longer of pain Of
death, simply as he was wont to speak a:
we had sat together many night watch
ing the same waters winding up the bee
of the creek; surely many a day was lef
for US to share together.
The moon was far up the heavens now
the tide was creeping up among the reed:
of the shore, and rocking the boats
sinuous bed of ooze was bidder
and in it's place was serpcntine rib
bon of sparkling waters, the uppermos
rim gs Of green on the piles at the wharve
and bridges were reached by the waters
the tide was at its height. Again Tin
spoke: at is full tide at last" Yes,
pds high tide, high tide of three score year
and ten, high tide of guileless, unselfisl
life, high tide Of noble doing, and, as a
full tide the stately ship weighs her an
Choir and sails for distant port, so Tim
soul had gone, fastening to a haven not o
this world. folded his hands upon hi
breast and kissed the beautiful, peaceful
face, then sat beside his clay and though
OF all that ne mad done, ana now MS men
DRY would live long after him, and W lille
pondered this vision came to me, awak
or asleep, know not:
From afar of 1 seemed to see a sou
standing before the Judge of the World
and the Judge babe that the Books of tn
Record of Life be brought and read, an
as they were read, the stern lines SCENE
to fade from the face of Him who sat upo
the throne, ineffable tenderness shone W
on His countenance, and in tones of maj
velous sweetness He uttered these word
that fell like a benediction on the waitin
soul: 'Inssmuch as thou hast done it
one of the least Of these, My brethren
thou hast done it unto Me-"